Carbon Steel H-Beam – Hot Rolled Structural Section | Factory Direct | Huaxia-Steel
Carbon steel H-beam is the workhorse hot-rolled structural section for buildings, bridges, towers, industrial frames, and marine structures. The section geometry combines a vertical web with two parallel horizontal flanges, giving high moment of inertia in both principal axes at low weight. Huaxia-Steel supplies factory-direct H-beam in carbon steel grades Q235B, Q355B, SS400, SM490, S275JR, S355JR, and A36 / A572 Gr.50, with heights from 100 mm to 900 mm and length to 18,000 mm. Hot-rolled delivery per EN 10034 / ASTM A6 / GB/T 11263 with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate.
1. Section Designation and Geometry
An H-beam section is designated by a four-figure width x height followed by web thickness and flange thickness in millimeters. For example, “HW200 x 200 x 8 x 12” means a wide-flange H-beam with depth 200 mm, flange width 200 mm, web thickness 8 mm and flange thickness 12 mm. There are three standard sub-categories:
| Series | Geometry | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| HW (Wide Flange) | Flange width approximately equal to depth | Beam and column |
| HM (Medium Flange) | Flange width 60 to 70 percent of depth | Beam, bracket, column |
| HN (Narrow Flange) | Flange width 50 percent or less of depth | Beam only, generally lighter load |
Outside China, the European IPE and HE designations are common, and American W-shapes are the closest equivalents. Cross-reference tables are provided in section 7.
2. Manufacturing
Carbon steel H-beam is produced on a continuous universal mill or by welding two flanges and a web together:
- Hot-rolled universal mill (UR): the slab is reheated to 1,100 to 1,250 deg;C, descaled, then passed through a roughing stand and a finishing universal stand with horizontal and vertical rolls that form the flanges and web simultaneously. The continuous process produces consistent geometry for sections up to 1,000 mm depth.
- Welded H-beam (also called fabricated beam): a web plate is cut to length, two flange plates are cut from coil or plate, then the three pieces are welded together by submerged arc welding. Welded beams are economical for non-standard sizes or heavy sections beyond the universal mill capacity.
Huaxia-Steel supplies both hot-rolled (UR) and welded (fabricated) H-beams. UR is preferred for export because it carries higher confidence in dimensional tolerance and mechanical property consistency.
3. Grade Selection
| Grade | Standard | Yield (MPa) | Tensile (MPa) | Charpy @ 0 deg;C (J) | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q235B | GB/T 700 | 235 | 370 to 500 | 27 @ 20 deg;C | General building, light frame |
| Q355B | GB/T 1591 | 355 | 470 to 630 | 34 @ 20 deg;C | High-rise, bridge, crane |
| SS400 | JIS G3101 | 245 | 400 to 510 | not required | Japan, Southeast Asia building |
| SM490A | JIS G3106 | 315 | 490 to 610 | not required | Welded structure |
| SM490B | JIS G3106 | 315 | 490 to 610 | 27 | Cold-region building |
| S275JR | EN 10025-2 | 275 | 410 to 560 | 27 @ 20 deg;C | European construction |
| S355JR | EN 10025-2 | 355 | 470 to 630 | 27 @ 20 deg;C | European heavy building |
| ASTM A36 | ASTM A36 / A6 | 250 | 400 to 550 | optional | North American building |
| ASTM A572 Gr.50 | ASTM A572 / A6 | 345 | 450 to 550 | optional | High-rise, long-span bridge |
4. Standard Size Range
| Series (HW) | Range (mm) | Common Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| HW100 | 100 x 100 | HW100 x 100 x 6 x 8 |
| HW150 | 150 x 150 | HW150 x 150 x 7 x 10 |
| HW200 | 200 x 200 | HW200 x 200 x 8 x 12 |
| HW250 | 250 x 250 | HW250 x 250 x 9 x 14 |
| HW300 | 300 x 300 | HW300 x 300 x 10 x 15 |
| HW350 | 350 x 350 | HW350 x 350 x 10 x 16 |
| HW400 | 400 x 400 | HW400 x 400 x 11 x 18 |
| HW500 | 500 x 500 | HW500 x 500 x 12 x 20 |
| Series (HN) | Range (mm) | Common Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| HN150 | 150 x 75 | HN150 x 75 x 5 x 7 |
| HN200 | 200 x 100 | HN200 x 100 x 5.5 x 8 |
| HN300 | 300 x 150 | HN300 x 150 x 6.5 x 9 |
| HN400 | 400 x 200 | HN400 x 200 x 8 x 13 |
| HN500 | 500 x 200 | HN500 x 200 x 10 x 16 |
| HN600 | 600 x 200 | HN600 x 200 x 11 x 17 |
| HN700 | 700 x 300 | HN700 x 300 x 13 x 20 |
| HN800 | 800 x 300 | HN800 x 300 x 14 x 22 |
| HN900 | 900 x 300 | HN900 x 300 x 16 x 28 |
Length is typically 6, 9, 12 or 18 m. Special lengths and parallel lengths can be cut on order. Mass per meter ranges from 17 kg/m (HW100 x 100 x 6 x 8) to 291 kg/m (HN900 x 300 x 16 x 28).
5. Dimensional Tolerance (per GB/T 11263 or EN 10034)
| Dimension | GB/T 11263 Tolerance | EN 10034 Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Height (h) | +/- 2.0 mm (h <= 400 mm), +/- 3.0 mm (h > 400 mm) | +/- 2.0 to +/- 4.0 mm |
| Flange Width (b) | +/- 2.5 mm | +/- 2.5 to +/- 5.0 mm |
| Web Thickness (tw) | -0.5 to +1.0 mm | -0.5 to +0.8 mm |
| Flange Thickness (tf) | -0.5 to +1.5 mm | -0.4 to +1.2 mm |
| Length (single) | +/- 50 mm | +/- 50 mm |
| Off-center (web-flange) | 2.5 mm | 2.5 mm |
6. Cross Reference Between JIS / EN / ASTM / GB
| GB (HW) | JIS (H-series) | EN (HE) | ASTM (W-shape) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HW100 x 100 | H100 x 100 | HE100 A | W4 x 4 |
| HW200 x 200 | H200 x 200 | HE200 B | W8 x 8 |
| HW250 x 250 | H250 x 250 | HE240 / HE260 | W10 x 10 |
| HW300 x 300 | H300 x 300 | HE300 B | W12 x 12 |
| HW400 x 400 | – | HE400 B | W16 x 16 |
| HN500 x 200 | H500 x 200 | IPE500 / HEA500 | W18 x 7.5 |
| HN600 x 200 | H600 x 200 | IPE600 | W24 x 7.5 |
| HN700 x 300 | H700 x 300 | HEA700 | W27 x 10 |
| HN800 x 300 | – | HEA800 | W30 x 10.5 |
| HN900 x 300 | H900 x 300 | HEA900 | W36 x 12 |
7. Welding and Fabrication
Carbon steel H-beam is easily welded by all standard processes: SMAW with E4313 / E5016 / E7018, GMAW with ER70S-6, FCAW with E71T-1, SAW with H08A + HJ431. For Q355B / SM490 / S355JR / A572 Gr.50, low-hydrogen consumables and 50 to 100 deg;C preheat above 25 mm thickness are recommended. Bolted connections use ASTM A325 or A490 high-strength bolts for moment frames. End-plate bolted connections are common in cold-formed buildings where field welding is restricted.
8. Surface Treatment and Packing
Standard surface treatment is hot-rolled with a layer of mill scale intact. Optional finishes for export:
- Shot-blasted + primed: SA 2.5 surface, anti-corrosive epoxy primer 25 to 40 microns, used for marine or humid environments.
- Galvanized: hot-dip galvanized per ASTM A123 / ISO 1461, 75 to 100 microns typical. Used for substation structures, streetlight columns, sign gantries.
- Black + oiled: rolled finish with rust-preventative oil for short-term storage.
Packing: bundles of 5 to 10 metric tons, four steel straps per bundle, plastic film wrap, hardwood chocks to protect edges. Stencil marks at both ends of each bundle. ISPM 15 wood dunnage and heat-treated pallets for fumigation compliance.
9. Quality Assurance
Huaxia-Steel H-beam is produced by Chinese mills certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and (for some mills) JIS mark, CE marking per EN 1090-1 (for structural components used in CE-marked buildings), and ABS / BV / DNV factory approval for marine structure. Mill test certificate per EN 10204 3.1 is issued per heat. Independent third-party inspection by BV, SGS or TUV can be arranged on request.
10. Applications
- Buildings: high-rise tower columns, beams, rafters, transfer trusses, base plates, stair stringers.
- Bridges: main girders, cross-bracing, diaphragms, deck framing, bearing plates.
- Industrial: factory columns, crane girders, equipment supports, platforms.
- Marine: offshore platform decks, jacket braces, dock fenders, jetty supports.
- Power transmission: transmission towers, lattice members, substation structures, switchyard platforms.
- Transportation: railway platform shelters, terminal roof trusses, container yard frames.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the difference between H-beam and I-beam?
H-beam (wide-flange) has equal or near-equal flange and web dimensions, giving axis-symmetric bending strength. I-beam (narrow-flange, IPE) has narrower flanges, optimized as a beam rather than a column. For column applications, H-beam is universally preferred.
Q2: How is H-beam packed for export?
Standard packing is 5 to 10 metric tons per bundle, four wire or steel straps, hardwood chocks at corners, plastic wrap, and stencil marks on each end. Containers or bulk vessel depending on size. Custom packing with wood crate for surface-protected beams is available.
Q3: Can H-beam be supplied with pre-punched holes?
Yes. We arrange subcontracted hole punching on the web and flanges per drawing, including bolt connections and slot holes. Tolerance +/- 1 mm. Lead time adds 5 to 10 days.
Q4: Is there a minimum order quantity for special lengths?
Standard length 12 m has no MOQ; orders from stock ship within 5 days. Special lengths (15 m, 18 m or other) require mill rolling mill setup and MOQ 50 metric tons per size.
Q5: What is the typical delivery time?
Stock sizes (HW100 to HW400, HN200 to HN600): 7 to 14 days from mill loading. Heavy sections or special grades: 30 to 45 days. Pre-galvanized beams: +10 to 20 days.
12. Conclusion
Carbon steel H-beam is the most efficient section for moment frames and column applications. Specify EN 10034 for European project, JIS mark for Japan, ASTM A6 for North America, GB/T 11263 for Chinese project. Pick the grade by MDMT and weldability. Confirm section availability for HW500 and above, and lead time for special lengths.
13. Get a Quote from Huaxia-Steel
Huaxia-Steel is factory-direct carbon steel H-beam exporter from China. Heights 100 to 900 mm, length up to 18 m, grades from Q235B to A572 Gr.50, packaging, ISPM 15 wood dunnage, BV / SGS inspection. Send your drawing, grade and dimensions for a quotation within 24 hours.
